I was shown my life through their eyes, and in it, I was always strong and proud. Even when others had thought me weak, I’d stood my ground and never wavered. I did what had been expected of me, and never questioned why until I was told to breach the Dark Prince’s tower to retrieve his crown, which I now knew to be a useless piece of silver.
I watched as Ryder ran his hand over my flesh and then watched us, his hand touching me. His Fae magic hadn’t been what made me react to his touch that day he’d found me in his tower. From the first touch, we’d sealed our fates. The connection had sparked, and we did as we’d been meant to. It was destiny, calling, pulling, beguiling, and tantalizing me. I’d hated myself for responding to him and for being unable to deny him, but I’d never had a choice—we’d never had a choice.
The attraction had been there, and both of us were unable to deny it. He hated it as much as I had, and it’s shown in the shock on his face as I push through his magic and deny his touch. From the moment he’d entered my apartment and we’d ended up with me naked on the floor, and him hovering above me, it had been fate. Every move that had brought us to this moment in time had been preplanned.
His club and my need to get away from him…I’d been terrified of these feelings, and I’d run, only to have my friends talk me back inside. Larissa, she was there, always the voice of reason and I wouldn’t have him if I hadn’t listened to her; she’d always been the smart one.
The Wild Hunt, and his intentions, which he’d brazenly laid out for me, before the hunt and after he’d caught me. I’d known I wanted him before the hunt, and I didn’t really try to get away; I expected just enough of an effort for him to chase me. I’d needed the decision to be taken away from me, and I’d needed to have him. We’d both needed it, and in a way, it broke one of the barriers that stood between us.
I watched as he overpowered me with his need, and the way he kissed me, both in the vision left me boneless and panting for his hungry mouth. I watched as he listened to his men outside, and then grew hard and angry as he made a choice for his people, even hating it as he took me back to the mansion as his prisoner. He had to be King of his people, and they had to come before his pleasure.
Then I was there with Ristan, and he was kissing me, feeding me power as my body had been weakened from iron poisoning. I watched as he kissed me, and then smiled as he watched me leave him. He’d known I would do the right thing; he’d had faith in the woman I’d been.
I watched as we moved to Ryder’s engagement party, and his actions as he mirrored mine, itching for me to move so he could touch me. He hadn’t even planned on hurting me; he had just wanted to touch me right up until Zahruk had stabbed me.
I felt his pain as he looked to where the dagger had protruded from my chest, the hopelessness he’d felt as he sifted me to Eliran. His anger as the Guild took me from him and left him helpless but to wait until I could heal so he could claim me again.
And then I watched as Joseph waited for me and everything he’d done to Larissa during that time. This part I could have lived without, but I understood it was a piece of who I was, and the person I was now becoming. I watched as he cut her open again, and then Ristan was there, pulling me into his arms and sifting me to safety. I’d begged him to save her, but I could see what he could see now, her soul wasn’t there. She’d already left her body and departed the living world for the other.
Then I was inside my head, and Ryder was there again. He’d brought me back when no one else could have. Danu might have had a plan, but she couldn’t have seen us as this, as a unity of one who worked well together. She’d had no guarantee that we would end up together, since all she could was push us in the right way without interfering directly.
I was shown my entire life up until the moment I died. It had been a turbulent ride, but I was still here. I heard the Fates as they whispered behind me, and I as I turned toward them, they spoke.
“For one so young, you’ve seen a lot,” they whispered, and one narrowed her eyes on me.
“She’s pure of heart and her soul is perfect for the change. What is done is done, and so you shall stay as you are. You have been blessed, and we will take your story to those who shall seek to argue against you becoming a Goddess. One pure of deed, whose heart is true normally cannot be challenged; however there are those that may try. Blessed be, Synthia.”
They talked through each other. As if together, they were one. Three pairs of hands grasped me at the same time and then my vision was blinded with light, and I was pushed into the water.
When I popped back up, it was to them scrubbing me like a naughty child who’d played in the mud. One used a sponge, which washed over my skin like sandpaper; another washed my hair until it slid over my flesh as the softest silk. The third snapped her fingers and the most beautiful dress appeared in her arms.